Sediment tester head



Dec. 23, 1952 w. D. LUCAS ETAL SEDIMENT TESTER HEAD Filed sept. 15, 1948 Ef/3.2. /3 29 f25 IN V EN TORS` Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEDIMENT TESTER HEAD Walter D. Lucas, Walter Ebert, and Joseph S.

Kessler, Kenosha, Wis., assignors to Lillian.

King, Chicago, Ill.

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sediment tester heads.

Sediment testers are commonly used by the dairy industry to obtain samples of milk from milklcans or the like so that the samples may be examined for sediment and dirt. It is absolutely necessary thatl these samples be taken from adjacent the bottom of the milk can rather than from a point intermediate the height thereof. Conventional sediment testers have not been altogether satisfactory because of the fact that some of them permit the taking of a sample of milk before the tester head has reached the bottom of the can.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide an improved sediment tester head having novel means for positively preventing the taking of a sample unless the head is in contact with the bottom of the receptacle containing the fluid to be tested.

A `further object of the invention is to provide an improved sediment tester head which permits the expulsion of a ltered portion of the sample without regard for the position of the head in the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sediment tester head of the class described which is adapted for use with either hand or power operated sediment testers.

A further more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved sediment tester head of the class described having a spring loaded valve member therein which is formed with an angled surface, and having an axially slidable plunger projecting from the outer end thereof and positioned to coact with the angled surface of said valve member, the construction being such that said valve member can be opened either by depression of said plunger when the latter contacts the bottom of the receptacle or by fluid pressure on the opposite side of said valve member.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sediment tester head of the class described which is relatively simple in construction, which may be quickly and easily disassembled and cleaned, which is strong and durable, and which is otherwise well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved sediment tester head, and alll of its partsand combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof;

inthe drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specication wherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention; and wherein the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views;

Fig. 1 is a side view of a milk can showing a hand-operated sediment tester positioned therein and provided with an improved head, said can being shown in vertical section and parts of said tester and head being broken awayv and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the improved sediment tester head with the parts thereof in normal position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the parts thereof while a sample is being taken; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral I0 indicates a conventional milk can, and the numeral II indicates a hand operated sediment tester provided with an improved head I2 which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

The sediment tester I I is comprised of a pump including tubular casing I3 having a piston Id slidablypositioned therein. A piston rod I5 is iixedly connectedto the piston I4 and projects exteriorly of the casing I3 through a central aperture in a cap I6 which is threaded onto the upper end of the casing I3. Fixed to the outer end of the piston rod l5v` is a handle I'I. Fixedly positioned-near the lower end of the casing I3 is a diametrically extending bar I8, the purpose of which rwill appear hereafter.

The lower end of the casing I3 is formed with a portion of reduced kdiameter I9 for engagement with the head I2. Any suitable means of connection between the portion I9 andthe head I2 may be used, the preferred form shown being that of a friction t which will permit quick disassembly of the parts for cleaning purposes. The head I2 is formed with a tubular body v2E] having an enlarged intermediate portion 2i which has formed in its upper surface an annular groove 22. The groove 22 is adapted to receive the .lower end of the casing I3. An annular gasket 23, of any suitable material, is preferably positioned in the groove 22 as shown.

The upper end of the body 20 of the head I2 is formed with an enlarged bore portion 24 which communicates with a bore portion 25 of smaller diameter to form-an annular shoulder 25. Positioned in the bore 24 and on the shoulder 26 is a removable lter pad supporting disc 21 which is formed with a plurality of perforations therethrough. A circular filter pad 28 is positioned in the upper surface of the disc 21 and is of substantially the same diameter as said disc. When the head 2 is assembled on the lower end of the casing |3, the bar I8 is in engagement with the upper surface of the pad 28 as shown, the body being formed with diametrically opposite notches 29 in its upper end to permit the bar I8 to so engage the filter pad 28.

Adjacent the enlarged portion 2| and communicating with the bore portion is a valve chamber 30 having a relatively large diameter. Around the margin of the lower end of the bore portion 25, the body 20 is formed with a downwardly projecting annular flange 3| which acts as a valve seat. The ange 3| has an outwardly bevelled annular inner surface and an axially extending annular outer surface which merge into an annular knife edge 32 (see Fig. 3).

The lower end of the chamber 30 merges into a bore portion of smaller diameter 33 which eX- tends to the lower end of the body 25. Threaded on the lower end of the body 23 is a cap 34. The cap 34 is preferably formed with three radially projecting arms 35 which support a central integral and upwardly projecting sleeve or boss 36. The bore of the sleeve 3G is preferably coaxial with the bore portions of the body 23, when the cap 34 is assembled on the body 2G. Slidably mounted in the sleeve 36 is a plunger 31 having a rounded upper end and having an enlarged head 38 at its lower end which is positioned eX- teriorly of the cap 34. Spaced from its upper end the plunger 31 is formed with a circumferential groove 39 in which is seated an annular ring 40 of rubber, metal, or other suitable material. The ring 40, by engagement with the upper end of the sleeve 36 prevents the plunger 31 from dropping out of said sleeve.

A valve member 4| coacts with the valve seat 3|. The valve member 4| has a substantially flat upper surface which has formed therein an annular V-shaped groove 42, the diameter of the apex of said groove being equal -to the diameter of the knife edge 32 of the seat 3|. When the valve member 4| is in closed position, the inner bevelled surface of the groove 42 seals against the inner bevelled surface of the seat 3|, as shown in Fig, 2. Formed on the opposite side of the valve member 4| is an annular shoulder 43 which is adapted to receive one end of a helical spring 44. The opposite end of the helical spring 44 is supported on the radial arms 35 of the cap 34, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4, and said spring acts to urge the valve member 4| into sealing engagement with the seat 3|.

The lower end of the valve member 4| is formed with an integral downwardly projecting wedge shaped portion 45 having an angled or cam surface 46 on one side thereof which is positioned directly above the upper end of the plunger 31. The surface 4B is spaced away from the plunger 31 a short distance when the valve member 4| is in closed position, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In operation, the sediment tester is inserted into the can |E) from which a sample is to be taken, in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The valve member 4| is held in normally closed position by the spring 44 until the head 38 of the plunger 31 contacts the bottom of the can I0 and is depressed by said contact. As the plunger 31 is depressed, it moves to the position of Figs. 1 and 3. In so moving, the plunger slidably engages the surface 46 of the valve member 42, forcing the portion 45 of said valve member outwardly, and causing pivoting of the valve member 4| downwardly about a portion of the seat 32, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the construction is such that the valve member 4| cannot be opened by suction created by an upward movement of the piston |4 (as is the case with some head constructions). In order to open the valve 4| and to take a sample, the plunger 31 must be depressed by contact with the bottom of the can I0. This positively insures that the sample is properly taken from the near bottom of the can. With the valve 4| opened by said contact as in Figs. 1 and 3, a sample of fluid can be drawn up into the casing |3 by an upward pull on the handle |1 which moves the piston I4 upwardly. As the fluid flows upwardly through the apertured disc 21, it lifts portions of the lter pad 28, as shown in the dot and dash lines of Fig. 3, causing said pad to bend upwardly on each side of the bar 8.

After the sample has been drawn up into the casing I3 in the manner just described, the sediment tester may be lifted so that the plunger 31 is no longer in contact with the bottom of the can and hence is no longer depressed. The spring 44 will then snap the valve member 4| into the closed position of Fig. 2, and the plunger 31 will slide downwardly by force of gravity to the position shown. To lter the sample and to thereby retain the sediment and dirt suspended therein on the filter pad 28, the fluid is forced downwardly through the filter pad 28 by a downward push on the handle |1. The hydraulic pressure caused by downward movement of the piston |4 in response to the downward push on the handle |1 will push the valve member rectilinearly downwardly off the seat 3|. and will permit the filtered fluid to flow therepast into the can |0. If the hydraulic pressure is increased to the point Where the valve 4| is pushed downwardly sufficiently to cause the surface 43 thereof to engage the plunger 31, the valve member 4| will be tilted by said engagement and will permit increased flow of filtered fluid therepast. The force of the spring 44 urging the valve member 4| into closed position is readily overcome by the hydraulic pressure created by a downward push on the handle |1.

After all of the sample has been expelled from the casing I3, the tester may be removed from the can I0 and the head |2 may be removed therefrom to give easy access to the filter pad 28. The deposit of sediment and dirt on the pad 28 obtained by the operation just described is the measure of the purity of the fluid tested. Upon removal of the pad 28 from the disc 21 the improved head |2 may then be completely disassembled for cleaning purposes by unscrewing the cap 34 therefrom.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a sediment tester head having a tubular body provided with an inner end and an outer end, an annular valve seat formed in said body near said inner end, a valve member having an inner face and having an outer face which is angled to extend obliquely of the axis of said tubular body, said inner face being normally in sealing engagement with said seat for and means including an axiallymovable-plunger positionedadjacent the outer end of said body and havingfa portion engageable with said angled vouter face of the valve member for `also moving said valve member to open -position Vin response to vaxial movement of ,said plunger, said -plungerhaving a portion which projectsfexterior- `ly of said body.

2. In a sediment tester head havingatubular body lprovided with an inner end andan Youter end, an annular valve seat formed in said bodyy near said inner end, a valve member having an inner face and having an outer face which is angled to extend obliquely of the axis of said tubular body, said inner face being normally in sealing engagement with said seat for controlling the now o fluid through said body, a helical spring surrounding said angled outer face of the valve member urging said valve member into sealing engagement with said seat, whereby said valve will open in response to a predetermined pressure on said inner face, and means including an axially movable plunger positioned adjacent the outer end of said body and engageable with said angled outer face of the valve member for also moving said valve member to open position in response to axial movement of said plunger.

3. In a sediment tester head having a tubular body provided with an inner end and an outer end, an annular valve seat formed in said body near said inner end, a valve member having an inner face and having an outer face which is angled to extend obliquely of the axis of said tubular body, said inner face being normally in sealing engagement with said seat for controlling the flow of fluid through said body, spring means biasing said valve against its seat, whereby said valve will open in response to a predetermined pressure on said inner face, an apertured cap threaded on the outer end of said body, and a plunger slidably mounted in said cap and engageable with said angled outer face of the valve member for also moving said valve member to open position, said plunger having a portion which projects exteriorly of said cap.

4. In a sediment tester head having a tubular body provided with an inner end and an outer end, an annular valve seat formed in said body near said inner end, a valve member having an inner face and having an angled outer face, said inner face being normally in sealing engagement with said seat for controlling the now of fluid through said body, an apertured cap threaded on the outer end of said body, a helical spring supported by said cap and engaging said valve member with the angled face of the valve member positioned within said helical spring to urge said valve member into sealing engagement with said seat, and a plunger slidably carried by said cap coaxially with said spring, said plunger having an end portion projecting exteriorly of said cap and having its opposite end engageable with said outer angled face of the valve member to move said valve member to open position in response to inward movement oi said plunger.

5. In a sediment tester head having a tubular body provided with an inner end and an outer end, an annular valve seat formed in said body near said inner end, a valve member having an ,tilt said valve inner facegfonned y,with `an annularfgroove Aand uhaving-ana ngled outerfaoefsaid 4annular groove being normally in sealing engagement with said v,enonular seat vfor controlling the flow Vof huid through-said body, lan apertured cap threaded on the outerl end of said body, `a helical Vspring positioned Within saidbody and engaging said valve memberandsaid cap to urge said valve member into sealing engagement with said seat,

and a plunger slidably carried by said cap, said plunger having an enlarged head positioned exteriorly of said cap Vand having its opposite end normally spaced from said outer angled face of the valve member and engageable with said face upon inward.sldingzmovement oftthe plunger to member toppen gposition, said valve member being normally lpositioned fior rectilinear movement to open position in response to a predetermined pressure thereon aoting to compress said helical spring.

6. A sediment tester comprising a liquid pump having a tubular body provided with a suction opening and having piston means for sucking liquid into and for expelling liquid from said opening, a valve seat in said body between said piston and said suction opening, a valve member having an inner face and having an inclined outer face, spring means biasing said inner face into sealing engagement with said seat for controlling the flow of liquid through said body, and said valve member being positioned for movement to open position in response to a predetermined pressure on said inner face created by fluid expelling movement of said pump piston, and means including a movably mounted plunger positioned for engagement with said outer inclined face of the valve member for also moving said valve to open position, said plunger having an exteriorly projecting end for contact with the bottom of a liquid receptacle.

7. A device for testing the sediment in vessel contained liquids, comprising a suction tube formed of separable sections, a normally closed spring loaded valve controlling the now through the outer end portion of said tube, said valve being mounted for movement to open position in response to a predetermined uid pressure thereagainst from said tube, means at the outer end of the tube extending to said valve and operable upon contact with the bottom of the liquid-containing vessel to open the valve, and a ilter member within said tube adjacent the union oi a pair of the tube sections.

8. A device for testing the sediment in vessel contained liquids, comprising a suction tube having an opening at its outer end for receiving and expelling liquid, a normally closed spring loaded valve controlling the flow of liquid through said tube, said valve being mounted for movement to open position in response to a predetermined fluid pressure thereagainst from within said tube, means at the outer end of said tube extending to said valve and operable upon contact with the bottom of the liquid containing vessel to open the valve, and a filter member within said tube.

9. A sediment tester comprising a liquid pump having a tubular body provided with a suction opening and having piston means for sucking liquid into and for expelling liquid from said opening, a valve seat in said body between said piston and said suction opening and facing said suction opening, a spring loaded valve member having an inner face normally in sealing engagement with said seat for controlling the flow of liquid through said body, said valve being positioned for movement to open position in a direction toward said suction opening in response to a predetermined pressure on said inner face created by fluid expelling movement of said pump piston, an exterorly projecting contact member, and means between said Contact and valve member for opening the latter in response to engagement of the Contact member with the bottom of a liquid receptacle.

WALTER D. LUCAS.

WALTER EBERT.

JOSEPH S. KESSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Weber June 24, 1902 Sloan Jan. 6, 1914 Seraphin Mar. 22, 1927 Zeidler Aug. 28, 1928 Evers Jan. 10, 1933 Featherstone June 19, 1934 Lang Apr. 11, 1939 Wendler Apr. 23, 1940 Hooper July 16, 1940 Saffell Feb. 3, 1942 Olcott Feb. 10, 1942 Null Dec. 7, 1943 

